Before becoming a lecturer at Clemson, Marek worked as an adjunct instructor at Tri-County Technical College. Her career also involved experience at TailorMade Executive, Lucent Technologies, and AT&T Laboratories, according to her Clemson profile.

"A loss in the Clemson Family is felt by us all," Anand Gramopadhye, the dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, said in a statement. "On behalf of the college, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends."

Marek is survived by her mom, two children and her husband of 31 years, Todd Marek, who serves as executive director of the Watt Family Innovation Center.

Services for Marek are scheduled for 4 p.m. on Jan. 31 at East Cobb Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations to Clemson’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program.

"I am in awe that they would choose our program," said Serita Acker, director for Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention and WISE at Clemson. "I am really honored. She believed in the cause of women progressing in the STEM field and this is a testament to that."